589 



Lake Mills in the War of Secession 



BY 

Elisha W. Keyes 



[From Proceedings of the Wisconsin State Historical Society] 



MADISON 
IInioki. \i Society of Wisconsin 
1897 




Glass F5&3 

Bwik- J-&3 K4 



lake Mills in the War of Secession 



ELISHA w. keyes 



[From Proceedings of the Wisconsin State Historical Society] 



MADia '\ 
STATJ I [iSTORIi \i SOCIB rv 01 W 1S( 

1897 



XW J2XCHA • 
JVis. Hist.Sexfc 






LAKE MILLS IX THE WAR OF SECESSION. 



BY KI.ISIIA W KKVI> 

In this memorial address, on such a scasion, and before this 

lar S e audience, composed of friends and descendants of those 
uh " risked their li ves in the War,. ion, it seems emi- 

n, ' n,1 . v fi1 and Proper to recall the uoble deeds of those brave 
men of this village, vrhose uames stand inscribed upon the roll 
a me. 

The stair archives record the pari that Lake .'Will, took in 
thai war, and give the Dames and cumber of the mm she f ur . 
nished a- her quota. Hut it has beeo my desire to en 
this record, by giving some accounl of the particulars of I 
enlistmenl and service; and for this purpose 1 have spenl much 
time in research and investigation. I have scanned Dearly one 
hundred thousand names of soldiers, given in the Roster, in 
order to P ick ,,ut the Dames of those who claimed residence here 
and who were credited to this place. Prom a careful and pains- 
taking examination, I find thai 156 persons, hailing from Lake 
Mills, became soldiers; and I give here their „;,„„.. with such 
additional information as 1 can find regarding their servici 

the war. 

There are ;i few left of this -ailant band, and they are here 
within the sound of my voice. Their name, are Mill upon the 

' lif e, and I will eall them; and. as ] pronounce their na 
le1 ,1,,,m respond "here." And let this audience look upon them 
kindly, remembering what they have done, what sufferings they 
have endured, and the dangers through which they have passed. 
They are few in number, as compared with those who went 
forth from this town a third of a century ago; and. while 

tracts from a memorial address delivered at Lake Mills \i ,\ 30 
I-:..". 



IOO WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

honor their dead comrades, let us not forget them, the living 
comrades, who have been spared to us by a beneficent God, to 
be present here. They remember those dead comrades, when 
they were in life, who may have fallen by their sides, with life 
ebbing away; they may have assisted in consigning them to 
their mother earth, and, with their bayonets, filled in the graves 
with the clods; they can to-day go back in memory, and see all 
those stirring scenes again, and live over again the years they 
served in the Army of the Republic. I will call the roll: 

Henry Abbe, William B. Allen, Charles M. Atwood, Roswell T. At- 
wood, James Austin. 

Gabriel Bailey, Gilbert Banson, Henry L. Beach, George E. Beckwith, 
Morris B. Bemis, Morrill A. Bennett, L. E. Benton, Edward S. Bigelow, 
Jerry C. Bliss, Alexander Brink, Nicholas Brink, William L. Brooks, 
Gustavus H. Bryant, Spencer A. Bryant, Tom Burdick. 

Albert Cabell, Ezra S. Carr, Albert H. Clemens, Mason Collins, John 
G. Colt. 

Charles Dains, Clark L. Dains, Thomas Davis, Jerry W. Dean, Francis 
De Forrest, Homer Doolittle, James Douglass, Joseph Doutey, Joel C. 
Dow, Washington D. Dow, Charles Draeger, William Draeger, Darwin 
Dubois, Charles L. Duncan, F. A. Dyke. 

Albert H. Edwards, Olney Edwards, Harmon Ellis, George E. Everson. 

Philander Farmer, Samuel Farsen, Edward Fitzgerald, Franklin Foote, 
Horton E. Francisco, Jay Francisco, Harrison Fuller, Henry E. Fuller, 
John W. Fuller, Lyman Fuller, Simon Fuller. 

George N. Gause, William Gilbert, Perry B. Giines, F. D. Griffin, Nel- 
son T. Griffin. 

James Hamilton, Christopher Hanson, Hans Hanson, John W. Hanson, 
E. N. Harvey, Lynden A. Hildreth, William Hitchcock, William D. 
Hoard, John Huffy, Peter Huitzer, Walter Hume, Seldoh Huntly, Oliver 
C. Hurd. 

Michael James, Charles Johnish, Mathias Johnson. 

William Kaselka, Almond E. Keene, Charles A. Keyes, Norman D. 
Keyes, George Kilborn, G. A. Kline, Albert H. Krogh, Peter G. Krogh. 

Peter La Flambois, William H. Lent, George H. Lewis, Ferdinand Lohn, 
William Lord, John Lusted, Leonard W. Lusted, Samuel Lusted. 

Alexander McKee, James McLaughlin, P. B. Martin, Sylvester Matson, 
Charles J. Millard, Christian Miller, David H. Miller, Henry W. Mills, 
John B. Mise, Albert E. Mosley, James Mullaby. 

William M. Newcomb, Isaac Newton. 

Barney O'Brien, Thomas O'Brien, Nelson W. Olmstead, William Over- 
beck. 

Delos H. Piper, Charles H. Pohlman, William Potter, John Q. Proutey. 



I. \KI MILLS IN I 111' WAR "i SEC! SSION. [I >] 

Pel r Km. Milor B. Kay. August Reese, George Eleiner, James Ringer, 
Wilson -I. Ringer, W. < '<■ Ritchie. 

Daniel D. Saly, Asa E. Sampson, Ja s Seavy, J. Short, C. W. Sim- 
mons, Casper Smith, Edward Smith. George W. Smith, John W. Smith, 
William L. Spencer, I>. W. Stanley, Fred Strasburg, Winslow Stuart. 

John Taggart, Steven R. Teed, Charles W. Thayer, Roberl Thompson, 
Arthur. I. Toogood, William E. Toog I. John Tyler, Alonzo D.Tyler. 

.1. W. CJglow. 

R. Van Slyke. 

Orange Warner, Henrj W. Warren, Libbins F. Whitney, Oscar P. 
Whitney, ( reorge W. Willday, Gillman I >. Willey, Lewis J. Winget, Augusl 
Wollene. 

Franklin C. Young, James C. Young, Silas D. Young, William M . 
ig. 

Pew, alas! have responded audibly to the living ear; but, if 
with our spiritual sense, we shall hear the an 
sound from the infinite depths of space, from the realms 
and glory, and everlasl ing life. 

'his list, the following were killed in battle, or died from 
their wounds, — ten in number: Spencer A. Bryant, Joseph 
Doutey, Charles Johnish, William Kaselka, Sylvester Mai 
John B. Mise, D oa II. Piper, Milor E Ray, Wilson J. 
and Augusl Wollene. 
irteen died, while in service, from disease: Morris B. 
3, Nicholas Brink, William L. Brooks, Clark L. Dains, 
Francis De Forrest, Joel C. Dow, Lyman Puller, Perdinai 
Griffin, N C Griffin, William Hitchcock, Walter Hum.'. 

John Lusted, Alexander McKee, and William Overbeck. 

Those who received wounds while in action, eighl in number, 
are: Alberl Cabell, Thomas Davis, Charles Draeger, George H. 
5, Christian Mil D id A. Miller, Daniel W. Stanley, 

ami I lay. 

In addition there were eleven persons discharged from 
for disability from sickness and incidenl therel 

follows: W. A. Bennett, Ed. E. Bigelow, T Burdick, 

rr, Char D as, Henry E Puller, Simon Fuller, William 
D, Hoard, Samuel Lusted, Thomas O'Brien, and .lame- I; 
Thus, twenty-four men iwn their lives in their coun- 

rvice; and nineteen more were injured by w 



102 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

disease, — showing that the volunteers from Lake Mills bore 
their due share of the loss and suffering caused by the war. 

In this record of the soldiers from Lake Mills, it would have 
afforded me great pleasure to mention also those who went from 
the adjoining towns of Waterloo, Milford and Aztalan, but I 
could not well do so, it would have required too much time. I 
hope some one else will improve the first occasion to write up 
the history of the soldiers from those places; and that the ex- 
ample I have set, in this instance, will be followed in other 
towns in our State. Such records, collecting all available in- 
formation while it may be most easily secured, will be of ines- 
timable value in after years. 

At the present time the war records of our State are in much 
confusion; and it is only with much difficulty that one can pick 
out therefrom the desired information. I am glad that I can, in 
this record of the Lake Mills soldiers, add something to the an- 
nals of our town, and preserve in its history the heroic deeds of 
our veterans for their posterity. 

There are members of this Post who did not enlist from here, 
but later became identified with this town. There is Captain 
O. L. Ray, the adjutant of this Post, who then hailed from 
Waterloo. He was a gallant soldier, saw much hard service, 
and has a highly creditable army record; and he suffers to-day 
from a severe wound received in battle. Colonel Parsons, the ac- 
complished and experienced commander of the Post, hails from 
some other corner of the Union, I know not where, but his friends 
are glad that he is here now. Charlie Keyes, my nephew, and 
Bennie Stevens, my brother-in-law, were early gathered into the 
cemetery. I saw the former, then a member of the Second Regi- 
ment, upon the Heights of Arlington, a few hours before the 
advance to the disastrous battle of Bull Run, — his knapsack 
upon his shoulders, and his musket in his hands, ready for the 
morning march. The telegraph reported him killed, but he sur- 
vived that terrible defeat. 

You should not forget, on this occasion, your old friend and 
companion in arms, Captain Gustavus H. Bryant. He was the 
first man to enlist from Lake Mills, and was a brave and gallant 
leader. He suffered severely from wounds received, but main- 



LAKE MILLS IN Nil. W \U "I SEC1 SSION. 

tained his service until mustered oul a1 the close of the war. 
He removed to another State, and, after a few yea uffer- 

ing, died from the effecl of his wounds. Wherever he may lie, 
some kind hand will lay Bowers upon his grave to day. 

It may be interesting to know in what branches of the serv- 
ice these men were engaged. There were, in the Third and 
Fourth Cavalry, twenty-one; in the Third Battery, nine: Firsl 
oent, Heavy Artillery, uine; Firsl Regimenl Infantry 
(three months' men), one, being Gustavus II. Bryant, in whose 
honor this Pos1 is named. In tin' Second Regiment, one; Fifth 
anil, one; Eleventh Regiment, live: Fourteenth Regiment, 
three; Sixteenth Regiment, six; Nineteenth Regiment, five; 
Twenty-firsi Regiment, one; Twenty-third Regiment, three; 
Twenty-ninth Regiment, thirty-three ; Fori ieth Regiment, seven . 
Forty-second Regiment, fourteen; Fiftieth Regiment, one ; Firsl 
U. S. Sharpshooters, five; Twenty-ninth I". S. colored regi- 
ment, two; nineteen others were distributed among the other 
regiments and differenl arms of the service, 

Of this number of enlisted men, those nol included in the 
death or disability column were duly mustered ou1 at the ex- 
piration of their term of service, or at tin' close of tin 1 war. 

The records of the office of the Adjutant-General show that 
William K. Kaselka was the only man drafted into the service 
from Lake Mills; and also that substitutes were furnished by 
Joseph E. Fargo, Enoch B. Fargo, and Edwin II. Bragg respec- 
tively, as follows: Olney S. Edwards, Gabriel L. Bailey, ami 
Samuel S. Farsen, residents of Lake Mill-. The quota of the 
town during the war was tilled, almost without exception, by 
residents of the place, ami the required bounty paid to them ac- 
cordingly. The records of the town show that there was paid 

in bounties to tl alisted men. or in support of their families, 

over twenty-five thousand dollars. 

I think that few. if any. town-- in the State can show any 

•• re. ( .rd in the war, than did Lake .Mil'.-, a- it- population 

at that time was only about 1,500, including village and town. 

All honor to the patriotic people, that stimulated ami encour- 

so many to go ou1 in defense of their country. It was a 

Large number of men. lit for service, t" be taken from tl 



104 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

gregate population. The records of this Post show that thirty- 
six, of the men whose names I have given, have passed over the 
silent river, and joined the great majority beyond. Being scat- 
tered as they are, in the different states of the Union, it is 
probable that many other deaths have occurred of which no 
record has been received. 

During the war Lake Mills was not a railroad or telegraph 
station; but our people's anxiety for news from the front was so 
overwhelming that a special messenger was sent daily to Jef- 
ferson, the nearest point at which the latest tidings of the war 
could be obtained; and his return signaled a gathering of every 
one in the village and vicinity, to learn the good or bad news 
he might bring. 

There are many interesting incidents still vivid in the mem- 
ories of those who were prominent in the events of those years 
long ago. If I had time I might recount many; but I will only 
mention briefly two or three. One was a flag presentation upon 
the shores of yon beautiful lake, to the boys of the Twenty- 
ninth. The presentation speech was made by Mrs. Dr. Dubois; 
it was a most interesting occasion and the feeling of patriotism 
among those present was at high tide. The flag was given by 
the ladies of the town. 

I beg leave to quote from a letter which I have received from 
a patriotic lady of those days, — one of those brave women who 
did so much to fill up the ranks. In speaking of the recruiting 
for a company in the Twenty-ninth Regiment", she says: "There 
was a call for a meeting at the Methodist Church; after the pre- 
liminary organization, a few, who had made up their minds be- 
fore that evening, came forward and volunteered. They were 
greeted by cheers and remarks, that led one after another to 
come forward and offer their services. The scene was one never 
to be forgotten. There was applause from the men, and sobs 
from the women; and sometimes, when the men would get up, 
their friends would cling to them trying to hold them back, not 
from lack of patriotism, but loth to give tnem up to almost cer- 
tain death. But the excitement of the time, and example of 
others already enlisted, would prove too much for them, and 
they would soon break away and go forward." She also alluded 



I \kl. MILLS IN I HI WAR "1 -I ' I 5SI0N. IO^ 

to the Soldiers' Aid societies in village and town, a1 work 

weekly while the war lasl sd; to the numerous meetings in all 

, , ar ous • Hi- people, when volunteers were 

I f,, r; and to the efforl made to raise funds to meel the 
expenses of the Sanitary Commission. 

The worn, mi of ili" nation performed a mighty work in 
taining the soldiers in the field, and caring For the sick and 
wounded, nol only in hospitals, bu1 also upon the march. These 
ministerit re here, there, and everywhere thai duty 

called them. Many of them yielded up their lives tothe< 
in which they were engaged; and. if one will take a look among 
the graves in the cemetery at Arlington, where so many thou- 
sands of our soldiers are at rest, he will notice frequenl head- 
stones with the names of women placed thereon, who were 
nurses in hospitals, and there they were giv< d a p ace 

among their buried brothers. There are well authenticated in- 
stances where wives and sisters were imbued with such irres 
ble patriotism that they were determined to enlist with husband 
or brother, and to engage in active service. In this town there 
were a brother and sister named Mason and Sarah Collins; and 
the brother had made up his mind thai it was his duty to en- 
list. Bis sister Sarah, a brave and eourag rl, was deter- 
mined to accompany him, thinking thai she c< sguise her- 
in man's apparel, and, in company with her brother, be 
mustered into service. She was a strong, masculine-appearing 
, oss< ssii g robusl health, with the bloom of the roses upon 

cheeks. Her brother entered heartily into the scheme, over- 
come by the persistent importunities of his sister, thai she 
mighl go and share danger with him. Preparations for the de- 
ception wee- made; her raven tresses were cu1 short, she pul 
on man's clothing, and for some time she endeavored to ac- 
custom herself to her strange and unnatural apparel. She ac- 
companied her brother to the rendezvous of the company ; there, 
notwithstanding her soldier-like appearance and the air of mas- 
culinity surrounding her, her sex was at Lasl detected, while in 
barrack: — as it was said, by her unmannish way in putl 
her shoes and stockings; and poor Sarah, disappointed beyond 



106 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

measure at the failure of her efforts to become a soldier, witn 
tears in her eyes was obliged to return to her home, arid her 
brother, Mason, went to the front without her. The facts in 
this case are so well authenticated, by the memory of so many 
familiar with them at the time, that there can be no doubt about 
them. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




